Singletary does his namesake proud

October 31, 2004|By Neil Milbert, Tribune staff reporter.

GRAND PRAIRIE, Texas — Possibly the happiest people in Saturday's Breeders' Cup crowd of 53,717 at Lone Star Park were a former Northwestern infielder and "a poor kid from the South Side of Chicago" who went to college at San Diego State and dropped out to immerse himself in training thoroughbreds.

For Northwestern graduate Bill Koch, unheralded 37-year-old trainer Don Chatlos Jr. and the other members of their jubilant entourage, happiness was watching Singletary, named for former Bears linebacker Mike Singletary, score an upset victory in the $1.68 million Breeders' Cup Mile.

Koch is the managing partner of Little Red Feather Racing, a group of 13 owners he describes as "a big fun partnership."

"They know the thrills and chills of horse racing, and that's why they are in this," said Koch, grandson of the late Hollywood movie producer and horse owner Howard Koch. "I tell everyone coming into racing, `You could lose your money.' This is not about money. You look around this [interview] room and see smiles and cheers, and that's what we are about."

A California native, the 34-year-old Koch became a Bears fan when he was studying radio, television and film while playing baseball alongside future major-leaguer Mark Loretta at Northwestern.

The Little Red Racing Group acquired Singletary for $3,200. The 16.50-1 long shot's half-length victory in the Mile produced a $873,600 return on that meager investment and swelled his 16-race career purse to $1,438,612.

"We couldn't have thought of a better person to emulate," Koch said in explaining why he named the 4-year-old colt for the Bears' Hall of Famer who now is an assistant coach with the Baltimore Ravens.

The men never have met. Koch contacted Singletary by phone last year, informing him that he had a namesake and has continued to supply updates.

"I e-mail with his wife, Kim, and we talked to him right before we came here," Koch said. "He was very excited.

"He mentioned he was going to be on a train going to Philadelphia (for the Ravens' game with the Eagles). He's going to be thrilled."